[p. 410] a representative of Pulaski Township, residing on his excellent farm of forty-eight acres, was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, April 24, 1838, and is a son of Bissell H. and Fannie (Chapman) Spencer.
Few New England families took a more prominent part in the early history of Connecticut than did that of Spencer. It came to the colonies from England. Nathan Spencer, the grandfather of Whitney B., was a native of Connecticut, where he lived until he had a wife and family, and they journeyed to the Western Reserve, settling in Trumbull County, Ohio, acquiring land in Hartford Township.
Bissell H. Spencer, father of Whitney B., was born at Hartland, Conn., and accompanied his parents to Trumbull County. His life was passed on the farm his father secured and which he assisted to develop. There were many hardships to face, but the Spencers were ever of a sturdy type and he survived into old age.
Whitney B. Spencer assisted on the home farm and attended the district schools until he was about seventeen years of age, when he learned the carpenter trade. Later he became a contractor and entered into partnership with a Mr. Henry, under the firm name of Henry & Spencer, which carried on a successful contracting business at Burgh Hill, Trumbull County, for several years. Mr. Spencer continued to work as a carpenter until 1897, when he came to Pulaski Township and settled on his present farm. Here he has engaged in general farming ever since.
Mr. Spencer has one son, two granddaughters and three great-grandchildren.
Mr. Spencer was married (first) to Rhoda Wellman, who was born in Hartford Township, Trumbull County, and they had one son, Paul O., who resides on the West Side, New Castle. In 1883 Mr. Spencer was married (second) to Adda E. Chaffee, of Bloomfield, Trumbull County, Ohio. Mrs. Spencer is a daughter of Stephen K. and Eleanor (Ward) Chaffee, former residents of Kinsman, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer have an adopted daughter, Grace L.
Since the candidacy of Abraham Lincoln, for whom Mr. Spencer cast his first presidential vote, he has been identified with the Republican party.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
Previous Biography | Table of Contents | Next Biography
Explanation/Caution | Lawrence Co. Maps | Lawrence Co. Histories
Updated: 16 Oct 2001